Bio-Logic & Techno-Logic Convergence

IDAS International DesignWorkshop Spring 2010

Bio-Logic & Techno-Logic ConvergenceDesign learning lesson from nature

Can we capture the unpredictable evolutionary and emergent properties of nature ? Can understanding the mathematical principles behind our physical world world help us to create digital worlds ?

This workshop will focus on the programming strategies and techniques behind

computer simulations of natural systems. We’ll explore topics ranging from basic

mathematics and physics concepts to more advanced simulations of complex

systems.

New theoretical contents in complexity studies, mainly provided by biology and

cybernetic fields, allow the use of biological analogies as a valid approach to

architectural design and it may offer new tools to organize and optimize models.

The beginning of bionic applications in design, as well as its contextualization, is

presented in this first part of the workshop, giving a special attention to geometric

and structural methods inspired by living beings.

Fascinated by the phenomenon of flight, leonardo da vinci produced detailed studies of the fli-ght of birds, and plans for several flying machines, including a helicopter powered by four men and a light hang glider which could have flown.

Design «Inspired by Nature»

Leonardo da Vinci invited us to «take [our] lessons from nature,» adding that «this is our future»

Nature has always been a source of inspiration for all creators of any kind. In a

time when humanity is finally recognizing the importance of preserving it and finally

realized the importance of his actions on nature, it is worth remembering that it is

and will remain «an inexhaustible source of knowledge and innovation.»

An interdisciplinary approach to nature, gives us an opportunity to understand, learn,

observe ... and make good «lessons» of that power inspiring !

Nature is modular, nature built to shape (no waste), shape is cheaper than material,

nature optimize rather that maximize.

Where do shapes come from in the nature ? Could we extend the principles &

genetic of natural shape to the the design principle, the genetic of design.

Generative Design Process is about the modeling of initial conditions of an object (its “genetics”) instead of modeling the final form.

Through research on topology optimization, generative design tools based on

structural algorithms found in nature (such as the structures which give our bones

strength) have been developed to help provide designers and architects design

options, accelerate product development and provide a baseline for a structurally

sound design.

Mimicking natural processes also creates materially efficient forms because the

technology uses the minimal amount of material needed based on the function of

the product or building structure. This way, designers can have a new source of

inspiration.

Output results can be interpreted by the designer literally or more freely making his/

her design truly unique. This is a key point: the technology does not alter the central

role of the designer or the architect.

Code (genetic and digital) has emerged as the reality common to all things, material and immaterial.

A new kind of design practice is emerging. Information and code have become the

basis for understanding life, and the old, mechanistic models drawn in part from the

Industrial revolution have fallen away.

Originally, as a professional practice, industrial design was built upon a sturdy

foundation of manufacturing cycles, business needs, tooling costs, central distribution

networks, planned obsolescence, and seemingly abundant natural and synthetic

resources. These conditions, simply put, are no longer relevant.

Generative Design enables designers to explore more possibilities, in less time, create

better designs and efficiently create and manage complex geometric relationships.

Generative Design allows to produce new designs automatically by the push of a

button. A basic form, pattern, or object is automatically modified by an algorithm.

The result: infinite random modifications of the starting solution (within a solution

space set by the designer).

WORKSHOP

Aim : Create Awareness and interest among students and prepare them for necessary alternatives to the mainstream Design Paradigm.

This specialized Workshop is designed for students in various design fields that are

interested in applying Biomimicry, including but not limited to:

Architecture, Engineering, Industrial Design, Research & Development, Landscape

Architecture, Product Design, and Interior design.

Workshop Topics:

History and theory of Biomimicry, ethics and philosophy of Biomimicry, the interface

of engineering and biology, biological and ecological principles relevant to design,

organic architecture, sustainability challenges in industry and potential bio-inspired

solutions, practical application of Biomimicry as a design tool.

Outcome:

A sense of possibility, because sustainable models already exist…right outside, a

proven method for bringing nature’s ideas to the design table, a whole new way of

viewing and valuing the genius that surrounds us.

TOOLS

For this workshop, the Rhino non-industry specific surface modelling tool will provides an easy introduction to 3D digital modeling.

Generative modelling is undoubtedly becoming one of the most exciting CAD

developments adopted by the industry. While architectural practices lagged

mechanical designer’s appetite for 3D by about 20 years, there has been a sharp

increase in the use of 3D and advanced form-creation tools and Rhino is one of the

more popular solutions.

Popular among students and professionals, Rhino modelling tool is endemic in the

architectural design world.

Rhino has played a predominant role within that move to 3D because of its low

cost, ease of use and powerful feature set. (aecmag.com)

Grasshopper is a way for designers to look at design problems as a set of sophisticated relationships and to map those relationships graphically and programmatically into a system that allows them to interactively play with alternatives.

For this workshop, the Grasshopper environment will provides an intuitive way to explore generative design without having to learn to script.

Grasshopper is a graphical algorithm editor tightly integrated with Rhino’s 3-D

modeling tools for designers who are exploring new shapes using generative

algorithms,.

Unlike RhinoScript, Grasshopper requires no knowledge of programming or

scripting, but still allows designers to build form generators from the simple to the

awe-inspiring.

Before Grasshopper, Scripting, .NET, or C++ code was the only way to do that in

Rhino. Writing code is not something designers really want to get their head into.

Grasshopper works within Rhino and uses standard Rhino geometry but has its

own slick interface window. Algorithms and manipulators are dragged, dropped

and connected, as if they were being wired together like effects pedals. It is about

as easy as it gets to use but still requires a methodology and understanding of

geometry to get a desired result. (aecmag.com)

DAY 01Bionic approach to Design & Architecture

Fundamentals of bionics applied to design, geometric and structural inspirations - Generative process & coding - Rhinoceros 4.0 (from introductory to advanced levels)

New theoretical contents in complexity studies, mainly provided by biology and

cybernetic fields, allow the use of biological analogies as a valid approach to

architectural design and it may offer new tools to organize and optimize models.

The beginning of bionic applications in architecture, as well as its contextualization,

is presented in this first part of the workshop, giving a special attention to geometric

and structural methods inspired by living beings.

Lecture & individual practical work.

DAY 02Biology : Scientific & Philosophic concepts

Scientific and philosophical concepts and principles provided by biologyGenerative process & coding - Rhinoceros 4.0 (from introductory to advanced levels)Grasshopper (freeware plug-in for Rhinoceros 4.0 – introductory level)

In the second day of the workshop, scientific and philosophic concepts provided

by biology are analyzed and considered in a prospective way. The scientific and

technological development increases the possibilities of experimentation and

generates a feedback process that can be understood taking into account the

more relevant theories about evolution, development and auto-organization.

Lecture & individual practical work.

DAY 03From Biology to design.

Application methods: How biological concepts and principles may be applied to design through digital technologies. Grasshopper (freeware plug-in for Rhinoceros 4.0 – advanced level)

In the third part of the workshop, the attention will be focused in how the complex scientific concepts provided by the observation of biological processes may be connected to architectural and design professional practice by the creative use of digital technologies. The evolution of the cybernetics and biological inspired software, as well as the various morphing processes and solutions enabled by the use of generative software, are also explored in this part.

Lecture & individual practical work.

DAY 04Development & Application

Development of an algorithm, program, or a methodological process.

In parallel to the theoretical research, it will be created an algorithm, a program or

a methodological process in order to model architectural elements and to allow

one to explore the relationship between a generative code and a phenotypical

expression, as well as some other genetic-like properties, such as parameterization

and mutation by recombined code.

In summary, the morphologic analogies lie on the emulation of natural shapes

and additionally, the genetic process analogy starts with the development of

parameterized models and then continues with the manipulation of the correspondent

code following generative rules. With the aim of stimulating the “bio-logics” applied

by the architecture researchers, the knowledge application should be done into the

complex decision making process involved in sustainability issues.

Lecture & individual practical work.

FINAL OUTPUT

Professor Mauro Costa is an associated professor at ELISAVA, Escola Superior de Arquitectura – Universitat Internacional de Catalanya (ESARQ-UIC) and invited professor at Faculdade de Arquitectura de Lisboa (FA-UTL), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IaaC) and Lusíada Univesity in Barcelona and Lisbon.

Completed a Ph.D. at the ESARQ-UIC, Barcelona, with the thesis – Analogías Biológicas en la Arquitectura – approved with an Excellent – Cum Laude and had a scholarship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal. Holds a Master in History of Architecture and Design, and a Master in Genetic Architectures: the New Cybernetic Design and the New Ecological Design from ESARQ-UIC. He also holds an undergraduate degree of six years in Architecture from FA-UTL, Lisbon.His research concerns the analysis of functional analogies between biology and architecture with special emphasis on mass customization based in sustainable processes that can be materialized using CAD/CAM methods.

CONDUCTORS

Roger Pitiot’s career spans 30 years, with numerous outstanding design awards. Roger is an ENSAD Fellow, an active design consultant, and a teacher.After graduate in 1976 he joined the Design team of the SALOMON company, and participle in the settling of SX 90 the first SALOMON ski boot Designed with Roger Talon.

He established “Design Partners” known as DP in 1982, continuing the collaboration with SALOMON: the SX 91 ski-boot presented in 1985 became a classical of design. He taught in ENSAD from 1992 till 1994 in the Product Design department.

In 1996 he began, with the KIDP (Korean Institute of design Promotion) the Asian adventure in Korea. While keeping in touch with the European customers, he extended the collaboration with the Korean companies, Since 2000 He teach in IDAS, (post graduate school of Hongik University) in Seoul, sharing his time between education, conferences and consulting in Asia and Europe. He dedicate now most his time and research to promote and spread an alternative to the design mainstream.

Kwon Miyeong Design Management

Kim SeungJun Product Design

Kim JaeCheul Product Design

Sung Sora Design Management

Shin Hyemin Design Management

Shim Chihyoung Design Management

Yun Inyoung Design Management

Jang Yeji Design Management

Tseng shihhan Design Management

Cha HyoJin Product Design

Choi Jinhyuk Product Design

Soyer Damla Design Management

Kwon Hongjung Product Design

Kim Solee Product Design

Park Junghong Design Management

Oh Bonghwan Design Management

Yeo Young-gi Product Design

Chung hyesun Design Management

Bang Chaewon Design Management

Koh Nayoung Digital Media Design

Kim Jihyeon Digital Media Design

Yoo Hangjin Design Management

Koh Nayoung Design Management

Kim Miae Design Management

PARTICIPANTS

Bio-Logic & Techno-Logic Convergence 2010 - alterdedesign / IDAS - http://www.workshop.alterdesign.org